Human Rights in the US

When I think of human rights, I think of individuals who are suffering in the present day and time.

I think of the victims of violent crimes who do not always have closure because of minor mistakes made by attorneys and prosecutors. It seems the perpetrator has more rights than the victim.

I think of the millions of small children who have no one to speak up for them when they are abused and suffer untold atrocities at the hands of parents, friends, babysitters, and daycare workers. They are beaten, starved, raped, shaken, left alone, and murdered by those they love. Many have no health care, and food is often inadequate.

The homeless are left to sleep in the cold, don’t have proper bathroom facilities, eat food from garbage bins, wear whatever kind of clothing they can find, have no health care, and are ridiculed and abused. In other words, they have been thrown out with the trash.

The elderly often have to decide whether to eat or take medication due to a lack of money, and many do not get proper health care because they cannot afford the supplemental care that Medicare does not provide. Some are forced to leave their homes or suffer from lack of public utilities such as power to light their homes and provide heat, and water to use to clean themselves and their homes.

Veterans suffer from diseases and injuries received while fighting to preserve this country and our rights, yet they are treated with disrespect by citizens of this country. Many are homeless and do not have access to proper and necessary medical care.

There are parts of this country where it people do not have adequate electric and water facilities for their homes and their children have only hand-me-down clothing and one pair of shoes a year. Some children have to miss school during parts of the year to help harvest crops so there will be food for them to eat.

When we speak of human rights, most people seem to think about foreign third-world countries and neglect to remember those in our own country who are suffering day to day just to survive. It makes me sick to think of all the money spent by candidates of all parties to try and get elected as President, members of Congress, judges, and other elected offices when we have so much suffering in our own country.

It seems America is becoming a forgotten country. If we are to remain strong, we must first make sure our own people are strong—not necessarily rich with money, but rich with health and outlook on life.